Chapter One
‘We’re coming into Penworth Bay.’ The cheerful bus driver called over his shoulder.
Looking up from the romance book she was devouring, Merri glanced out of the bus window and smiled. She was here. Back in Penworth Bay, the place she’d come to volunteer for a few weeks over the summer.
Closing her book, she slipped it into her rucksack before standing and gripping hold of the grab handles over her head as she made her way to the front of the bus.
As the bus slowed to a stop at the bus stop outside the pub, Merri pulled her rucksack onto her shoulder and picked up the small wicker basket she’d weaved for Elsie and grinned at the driver. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’ The bus driver pointed to her rucksack. ‘Did you have any luggage in the boot?’
‘Nope. Just these.’ Merri held her hand up in a wave before stepping down onto the pavement. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the familiar salty fresh air. It felt good to be back. Really good. She’d enjoyed her escape to the bay during the summer. And it had been exactly that – an escape. An escape from her flatmate, Aggie, who seemed convinced that the whole world was against her, an escape from her job and, more than anything, an escape from her solitary way of living.
At Elsie’s bakery, Merri had leaned what it was like to be surrounded by people who cared, people who actually appeared to want her there rather than Aggie who, if Merri hadn’t beengiving her the rent money each month would much rather live in their flat with just herself and her boyfriend.
As the bus idled at the side of the road, Merri stepped aside to allow others to jump aboard and turned to face down the hill. From here she had the perfect view of the ocean, Daisy and Ollie’s restaurant, Baywater Delights, which stood off to the left, and the small row of shops, including Elsie’s bakery to the right. Perfect.
‘Merri!’
Turning in the direction her name was called, Merri grinned as Tilly, one of Elsie’s previous volunteers who had been working in the bakery and shown her the ropes when she’d visited in the summer, ran across the road towards her. ‘Tilly!’
‘It’s so good to see you. How was your journey?’ Wrapping her arms around her, Tilly hugged her tight.
‘Good, good.’ Being careful not to knock the willow basket into her friend's back as she squeezed her in return, Merri stepped back and grimaced. ‘Well, well if you miss out the whole bit about me jumping on the wrong train and almost ending up in Manchester.’
‘Manchester? Seriously? That’s in completely the wrong direction.’ Tilly laughed as she held out her hand, pointing at Merri’s rucksack. ‘Let me take that for you.’
‘No, I’m good. Thanks though. I’ve been cramped up on uncomfortable seat after uncomfortable seat, so it feels good to have something to do, even if it is just carrying this old thing.’ Laughing, she hoicked it further up her shoulder. ‘I am starving though. I can’t wait to get to the bakery and grab one of Elsie’s cheese and onion pasties. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve been dreaming about them.’
‘Haha, so that’s why you’re back then. Not because you’ve missed us.’ Tilly linked arms with her as they began walking down the hill towards the beach below and the bakery.
‘That too.’ Merri grinned. Yep, definitely that too. She’d missed Brooke, Elsie, Ian, Teresa, Molly and Wendy but most of all Tilly, who had really helped her settle into the bay and train her up in the bakery. ‘I’m guessing you’re still working in the bakery? You mentioned you might be leaving?’
‘I’m still there, but I do have a job at a lovely bookshop lined up in a village just outside Trestow for the new year.’ Tilly smiled.
‘Ooh, congratulations! That sounds amazing! I always wanted to work in a bookshop.’
‘Same here. After spending so long out of the workforce whilst I cared for my aunt, I don’t think I’d ever have managed to get a job if I hadn’t volunteered at the bakery and got some up-to-date retail experience.’ Tilly glanced across at Merri. ‘It’s still going to be crazy busy though. Diane is coming back from maternity leave in a couple of days to work part-time, but Teresa is going to visit Gavin’s family for Christmas, and her last shift was today.’
‘Yikes, so that’s just Brooke, you, me and Diane part-time to cover everything? I’m guessing someone will be working on the coffee and cake counter, so just two or three people behind the bakery counter, depending on Diane’s hours?’ The bakery had been busy during the summer holidays when she’d last volunteered, and she didn’t expect it to be much quieter at this time of the year. Yes, there wouldn’t be all the holidaymakers, but they’d be some who came to visit a gorgeous place like Penworth Bay for the holidays, and with that on top of increased business from the regular customers due to it being Christmas, they were all in for a busy few weeks.
‘That’s right. It’ll be fine though. We’ll cope.’ Tilly crossed her fingers in front of her. ‘Hopefully!’
‘I’m guessing Ian will hop in if he’s needed, anyway.’ Tilly shrugged. Elsie’s husband had jumped behind the counter andhelped Elsie with the baking numerous times during the time she’d volunteered there, so at least they’d have backup.
‘Umm, nope. Ian’s covering shifts at Daisy and Ollie’s restaurant.’
‘Baywater Delights, right?’ Merri crinkled her nose as a raindrop landed on her forehead before dribbling down her nose.
‘That’s right.’ Leaning forward, Tilly pointed towards Merri’s basket. ‘Ooh, that’s lovely!’
‘Thanks. I went on a willow weaving course a few weeks back. While I was here over the summer, I promised myself to start doing something I wanted to do. You know, try to enjoy life a bit rather than just going to work and then home to spend the evenings holed up in my bedroom whilst my flatmate Aggie parades around the place with her boyfriend.’ She swallowed. That had sounded daft. Not that Tilly would judge her, but still...
‘I love that. I think it’s important to try new things. Heck, I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t. And neither would you!’ Tilly rubbed Merri’s arm. ‘You’re really talented. That basket looks absolutely amazing.’
‘Thanks.’ Merri gripped the basket a little tighter. She was proud of how far her weaving skills had come on during the course, and it felt good to be able to use her creativity again. She couldn’t remember the last time she had.
Pulling her hood up, Tilly quickened her pace until they were almost jogging. ‘Come on, let’s get in the warm and get your basket in the dry.’
